Federal Treasury has been forced to cut 30 full-time staff to avoid its own "operating losses" over the next two financial years. An internal email, written by Secretary Martin Parkinson, was sent to staff on Friday to warn them the department's recent voluntary redundancy program had "not resulted in the numbers required to reduce staffing levels to meet budget in 2015-16 and over the forward estimates".

It said a staff consultation period had begun for the involuntary process.

"Although we have come a long way in recent years to reduce staffing levels from their peak in 2010-11, there is still more to do in order for the department to avoid operating losses in 2015-16 and 2016-17," Dr Parkinson wrote.

"We have estimated that we are in the region of 30 full-time equivalents short of the required number.''